June 16, 2010

Landscape painter Thomas Kinkade—known as the “Painter Of Light” because he trademarked that phrase for himself, and as a purveyor of patriotic and Christian-themed images that are meant to contain a “larger moral dimension”—has been busted for drunk driving. It’s part of a pervasive pattern of self-destructive behavior for Kinkade, whose innocuous, assembly-line images of peaceful cottages, Jesuses, and snow scenes have made him the nation’s self-described “most collected artist,” which is sort of like Velveeta bragging that it’s “America’s most sought-after cheese.” As Kinkade himself once said, “We have found a way to bring to millions of people an art that they can understand,” which just about sums up his Norman Rockwell-meets-Walmart approach.

Go to the link to see a few attempts Photoshop the mug shop into a Kinkadesque vision of light.

Pebble Beach is hopping with millionaires this week for the U S Open. Golfing while intoxicated is a good thing and not a bad thing. TK was probably going back to the Resort to lighten up Clint Eastwood's windows for him and got confused.

Kinkade isn't my cup of tea but when ever someone starts dissing his art it always gets my hackles up. I can't help but think of a presentation by the former student who "made it" the one semester I was an art major, the returning hero visiting from the Big Apple where he was a Success. And trying to decide what possible virtue infinite variations on mirror image yellow resin obelisks had that managed to pay Manhattan rent.

If some unsophisticate in Iowa is bursting with pride over her original Kinkade, there is some aging boomer in Manhattan with a five foot tall set of matching, leaning resin obelisks that won't fit in the closet.

Re drunk driving arrests: It's an industry in CA. Not saying he wasn't but please note reason for stop had nothing to do with 'driving'.

Re Kincade 'art': Not my cup but probably represents an ideal for many millions who live in 'dumps'. Everyone (in America, at least) is entitled to their own fantasy and who's to say Kincade's is worse than Calvin Klein underwear ads.

And, speaking of Eastwood: My favorite image of the power of celebrity. About 20 years ago, I'm at an airline ski week in Sun Valley (girlfriend's bro was a Delta driver). Anyway, late in the evening, the MC promotes a wet t-shirt event. After much pleading, he has two or three women enlisted (who, believe me, have been hoping for someone to say "show me your tits" all their lives). In the meantime, women in the audience have grown openly hostile to the sexual exploitation theme. The MC gives it one final shot by saying the contest will be judged by Clint Eastwood. Feminist indignation in the room reached Helen Reddy "hear me roar" levels. Then, guess what? Eastwood walked onstage. You could have been killed in the stampede of women rushing up to join in the fun. I'm sure my girlfriend would have been among them but for the presence of her brother.

Yeah, I don't get the dumping on Kincade. The guy makes art that people like. Personally, I don't think people bust on him so much because the art is bad, but because the people who buy his art aren't sophisticated elites. It's not like his stuff is significantly worse that what you find at many galleries.

I'm just waiting for Kincade to become popular in hipster underground art circles. Like PBR, it's just so declasse that eventually it must become cool.